An Abuja based political group, Patriotic Peoples Forum (PPF), founded in 1999 at the advent of the fourth republic to provide effective guidance and direction to politicians for the growth of the democracy, has voiced out its support to the aspiration of Senators AbdulAzeez Yari and Orji Uzor Kalu for the senate presidency of the 10th Senate.
In a press statement made available to this medium by spokesman of the organization, Sanusi Muhammad and signed by its President-General, Mazi Chukwuma Ndubuisi JP, the organization said: “The aspiration of Sen. AbdulAzeez Yari from Zamfara West senatorial zone should be seen as a palatable ingredient for the growth of the democracy and balancing the equation for national interest”.
It added that with President Bola Hameed Tinubu coming from the Southwest as the 16th president and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) from the same geo-political zone, and Tinubu’s vice from the Northeastern part of Nigeria, the senate president should either come from the Northwest or the Southeast in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice, stressing that; “The executive and judiciary are from the southwest, the northeast has the vice president, north central has been settled with the plum position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) against the interest of the zone that preferred to have the speakership position while the northwest is reduced to the position of Speaker House of Representatives from the zoning arrangement of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), forgetting the fact that over 63 percent of the total votes that brought the Tinubu presidency to fruition were from the 19 Northern States with the northwest delivering over 23 percent of the 63 percent votes that should be compensated.
“The Southeast was offered the deputy speakership of the House of Representatives as its share from the zoning arrangement which signifies a relegation of the entire southeast in the scheme of federal governance
“The zoning arrangement was made in secrecy without the consent and authority of contestants of principal offices of the national assembly which was a gross violation of their constitutional right that should not be allowed the test of time.
“Not only that, the APC in active connivance with some players, acted out of context for desperation to impose stooges on the national assembly against democratic norms and values. Neither the APC nor the President has the power or right to impose anyone on the national assembly for whatever reason other than treading the path of dictatorship to create confusion within the national assembly.
“As a way out of the quagmire it found itself APC has gone back to the drawing board to re-draw another hatchet plan and strategy that may dwarf the aspiration and subsequent victory of Sen. AbdulAzeez Yari should an election hold for the senate presidency in the senate by shifting its favor from Hon. Tajudeen Abas, its most preferred candidate for the Speakership of the House of Representatives to Hon. Sani Jaji, another contestant for the Speakership from the same Zamfara State with Sen. Yari
“Sen. Yari is not desperate to be the Senate President as he can conveniently move a step down the ladder for another credible contestant, Sen. Uzor Kalu who has better credentials and acceptability rating across party divide, than the touted Sen. Godswill Akpabio running battles with anti-corruption agencies”.
The Forum advised President Tinubu and the ruling party to sheath their swords and allow genuine democracy to play in the coming 10th senate, or be prepared to confront legislative challenges should they attempt to scuttle the efforts of other credible contestants for the senate presidency for whatever interest.
The Forum commended the campaign style of Sen. AbdulAzeez Yari while appealing to his Campaign Council to remain committed, steadfast and ignore the shenanigans and threats through compromised security and anti-corruption agents as victory through genuine democracy is waiting at their doorstep for pick.
